JFM and poverty alleviation: an analysis

摘要

The knowledge about interdependence between natural and social systems enforces the need to implement the Joint Forest Management Programme (JFM) in a more holistic, integrated and flexible development framework. The JFM Programme in India has great relevance for developing nations which have predominantly agrarian economy and the population is dependent upon forests for subsistence. The JFM in India has given a new thrust and direction through the 62 890 JFM committees covering 14.25 million ha of forest land in 27 states. This has resulted not only in rejuvenating the forest cover but also brought socio-economic changes in the life of the communities living in and around the approximately 175 000 forest predominant villages in the country. There has been a paradigm shift but the need is to have a holistic approach to forest and natural resource management with development of concept of livelihood initiatives through people's participation for forest enrichment. Poverty alleviation is linked not only to hunger satiation but for fulfilling the basic human needs of providing shelter, clothing, clean water, education and health care. It is a paradox that where more forests exist, there is higher degree of poverty and to mitigate this problem several policy initiatives have been tried but still much is required to be done. How productivity in the forest can be increased to meet the challenge of growing fuelwood, fodder and timber demands is the biggest challenge. The second challenge is to provide gainful employment and generate produce which can be harvested sustainably. The right approach is to manage JFM Programme by setting national objectives which should include multi-tier plantation, NTFP propagation and technological inputs which are low-cost and locally adaptive based on the principle of care and share. The enabling environment for sustainable livelihood option is participation of the forest communities with scope for local ingenuity, innovation and capacity building of the stakeholders for poverty Alleviation through Joint Forest Management.